Sexist Pig

[BigSugar]

Alright, here's a rant to find out just how far I have strayed from the pack.

Like many of the guys out there I'm sure, I've had to pay out a pretty penny for tickets to chick flicks when on dates. This isn't a problem, but as I have sat through one mind-numbing pile of garbage after another, I've begun to notice a disturbing trend. See, most "chick flicks" are harmless junk with absolutely nothing challenging or offensive in them. On the surface. But I had to sit through (and pay for) six different screenings of "Sweet Home Alabama."
*SPOILERS BELOW*
Now, while I'm almost certain that this violates my civil rights, I still did it. And while watching the movie, I began to pick up on some things that I thought were interesting in a movie about realtionships between men and women. First off, this is a successful, independant business woman at the heart of this film. played by Reese Witherspoon. She is compelled to return to her Alabama home in order to secure a divorce so she can wed uber-wealthy Patrick Dempsey. So far, so good relatively speaking. Here's where it goes off the rails. Slacker/loser (Josh Lucas) ex won't grant a divorce forcing Reese to stay in town just long enough to remember where she came from, fall back in love with her husband and all things are right with the world.

Bullshit.

The film suggests that the ex went and made himself into a successful business man, thereby proving how much he loves Reese. So, when he has money, he's someone worth staying with. He's an intolerable asshole prior to that though. So, I guess love doesn't conquer all so much as money does. She dumps the fiance for the ex when the fiance didn't do goddmaned thing other than not fuck up (bitch mother aside). I'm telling you, if this story were to actually happen, every woman I know would call Reese's character a stone cold bitch. And this film just one example of a near endless parade of crappy pap that promises romance and delivers shit. The fact is, these so-called romantic comedies are actually just lame comedies with a "love story" slapped in the middle. They are insulting and degrading to women far worse than any slasher film. Primarily the women at the heart of slasher films manage to vanquish the killer in no small part because they don't fuck around getting laid, drunk, or high. They kick evil's ass and move on. Tell me which is the worse portrayal of women.

[The Postmaster General]

I don't follow. I thought you said she stayed with the slacker in Alabama.

[BigSugar]

She does, but only after he opens a successful business, saying outright it's nothing but his wallet that makes him an acceptable mate.

[KcMsterpce]

I haven't seen the movie, so thanks for telling me how it ends without posting spoilers! I'm half joking, 'cause I've been meaning to see this movie for quite some time, and even though it probably ends the way I'd expect, I didn't want to KNOW FOR SURE how it ended.

That rant aside, perhaps the reason she stayed with him (speculating, haven't seen it; YET) is because he finally got his butt in gear, stopped being lazy, and out of his love for her he decided to show that he COULD be more than just a lump on a log, therefore showing her that he still loves her, and she decides he's worth loving.

[BigSugar]

So let me write this down so I have it straight in my head; honesty, trust, all of that Dr. Phil/Oprah shit is a lie and what counts is money and what money means to women, that's what I'm to read from these films? And by the way, this film isn't the only one propounding this thoerem. If this is the case, I don't have a problem with that. But don't hand me the slabs of bullshit (and that's exactly what it is) that it's what's inside that counts. Unless of course, what we're talking about is inside a wallet. Oh, and I'm sorry about the spoilers. My bad.

[outsyder]

I feel sorry for you having to sit through that movie 6 times. You need 6 cc's of Schwarzenegger, stat.

[Duke Nukem]

I suffered through this movie also before (only once, but still...), but I think you're giving the main issue about it a hard time. I didn't recall Reese Witherspoon falling back in live with her ex, just because he suddenly became successful with his own business/$$$. From what I recall, she remembered what growing up in Home Sweet Alabama was like and realized how superficial she became when she moved into the city. As much as the movie is a puke-o-rama, it does deserve a little more credit than the "$$$=Love" stance. I'll still, however, rant how the movie is an overly sappy chick-flick/puke-o-rama (Bleah! Splatter!).

[KcMsterpce]

Originally posted by BigSugar
So let me write this down so I have it straight in my head; honesty, trust, all of that Dr. Phil/Oprah shit is a lie and what counts is money and what money means to women, that's what I'm to read from these films? And by the way, this film isn't the only one propounding this thoerem. If this is the case, I don't have a problem with that. But don't hand me the slabs of bullshit (and that's exactly what it is) that it's what's inside that counts. Unless of course, what we're talking about is inside a wallet. Oh, and I'm sorry about the spoilers. My bad.

Well, let's see here.
Like I said, I haven't seen the movie.

What I seem to glean from your overall attitude of this rant is that you see it as her ONLY being attracted to him by the money. Well, that's a very masculine point of view. The problem is, for WOMEN, what they probably see is the perspective that I tried to portray to you.
So the real question is, do YOU only concern yourself about money and therefore see this movie as her only liking him for his money? Do you think women notice the ROMANCE of the movie - thinking her ex-husband's intentions are heartfelt more than the money involved - or just see the dollar signs in him? Before she went to Alabama, wasn't she already marrying a rich businessman or something?
So what was it REALLY that turned her back to her ex-husband? My guess is that the fact he made a lot of money is secondary to her realizing that she loves her "Sweet Home" in Alabama, and that the guy treated her right regardless of how much money he made, but the fact that he DID make money helped with the perfectly happy, fairy tale chick-flick ending.... she has no need to struggle at all in the end. (a) She has a loving guy in (b) her hometown with all her friends/family, AND (c) monetary stability to boot. All the ingredients for a HAPPILY EVER AFTER, which is what I think most chick flicks aim for in the end.

More than about "only" falling for a dude that has a lot of money.

This is all speculation, though. I still haven't seen the movie yet.

[BigSugar]

*MORE SPOILERS BELOW*


I'm going by the text of the film ONLY. She arrives in AL and feels displaced and above everything, in part because of the quaintness of the place, but also because of the distance she has come in her own life. As the film progresses, she maintains her didsdain for her husband until, standing in his place of business, she realizes that he is no longer the poor slacker THAT SHE LEFT BEHIND IN THE FIRST PLACE. This realization allows her to accept this guy all over again. This is the central plot twist that allows the third act to take place. I may be reading it too closely, but really doubt it.

[BorderEevilIII]

***SPOILAS****








What I got out of "SHA" was a girl (Reese Witherspoon) whos not thrilled visits and reconnects with the family, friends and the town she thought she left behind. She had a mission to see Josh Lucas to sign the papers so she could fullfill her happily ever after ending with Patrick Dempsey.
Not to recap the movie and sound like a synopsis. Witherspoon felt ashamed about her former life and felt outta place and she would have preferred livin the posh city life with prince charming. Evertually Reese has a change of heart and does a 360 here.
If Witherspoon did end up with Dempsey from the begining then the story overall would have been too easy. Throwing in who should be together eventually is what made "SHA" its own unique typical chick flick movie IMO.

[Jim H]

It wasn't about the money, more about how he had become more than he was in her eyes - someone who could have loftier goals and plan for the future..

Still a pretty crap movie though.

[Crazy Dud]

I agree with your viewpoint, BigSugar, on chick flicks. I have been telling people for some time that they are, generally, the most sexist movie genre in American filmmaking, but I believe SHA is a bad example because the man she was originally set to marry was also wealthy. A truly great example of a sexist chick flick is She's All That. Think about it . . . the woman becomes "cool," "popular," and "attractive" by allowing men to change her into a Hollywood bombshell. Is this the message young women really want to hear? Keep in mind that most chick flicks, ironically, are written and directed by men.

[Jim H]

Originally posted by Crazy Dud
I agree with your viewpoint, BigSugar, on chick flicks. I have been telling people for some time that they are, generally, the most sexist movie genre in American filmmaking, but I believe SHA is a bad example because the man she was originally set to marry was also wealthy. A truly great example of a sexist chick flick is She's All That. Think about it . . . the woman becomes "cool," "popular," and "attractive" by allowing men to change her into a Hollywood bombshell. Is this the message young women really want to hear? Keep in mind that most chick flicks, ironically, are written and directed by men.

The thing that was ludicrous about She's All That is she was super attractive before they did anything.

Probably the best bit of satire in Not Another Teen Movie was where they make the "ugly" girl super hot by taking her glasses off and letting her hair down, then pointing her at a mirror where she is amazed.

[Crazy Dud]

Originally posted by Jim H
The thing that was ludicrous about She's All That is she was super attractive before they did anything.

Probably the best bit of satire in Not Another Teen Movie was where they make the "ugly" girl super hot by taking her glasses off and letting her hair down, then pointing her at a mirror where she is amazed.

:D

A brilliant moment in an otherwise mediocre film!

[The FamilyJulas]

Originally posted by Crazy Dud


A brilliant moment in an otherwise mediocre film! God, that movie is a major guilty pleasure of mine...

[AaronisMe]

Romantic comedies aren't very funny. Their only comedic moments involve people falling down.